Many people struggle in their daily life due to a poor relationship with their earthly fathers. I’ve counseled some who tend to humanize and view God through the lens of their negative experience. Many believers in Jesus also get tripped up in their relationship with their heavenly Father. If their earthly dads have failed them, it’s hard for them to believe that God won’t do the same.
Still, Jesus pointed to a heavenly “Father.” Time and time again, He addressed His “Father” and taught His followers to do the same when they prayed (Luke 11:2). And after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus referred to God as both “My Father and your Father” (John 20:17).
Jesus spoke of God as “Father,” though God was no ordinary dad. He was revealing to us a father unlike the world had ever seen. Jesus was opening our eyes to the kind of amazing father He portrayed in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).
The parable, which is more about the dad than the son, presents an image that goes far beyond anything one would expect of a father. A Jewish father in that day would not have accepted the prodigal son back with open arms. Instead, he would have disowned his son for disgracing the family and would likely have had him stoned for his rebellion (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
But Jesus was not describing a father based on the men of His day. He was declaring that there’s a Father who will never let us down—One who is full of grace, mercy, and love. Paul wrote, “God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Jonah 3:1–4:11
More:
Read Romans 8:15 and consider that “Abba” is an Aramaic word for “Daddy”—a word a child would use for his father.
Next:
What qualities come to mind when you think of your heavenly Father? Why is it vital that you have a true view of Him?
tom felten on June 4, 2013 at 8:47 am
Jeff, I’m so grateful for godly fathers that provide a good—yet imperfect—reflection of our heavenly Father. And, praise God, that regardless of our human Dad’s character and qualities, we can learn to trust and receive perfect love from Abba, from our Father in heaven.
Jeff Olson on June 4, 2013 at 9:01 am
So true…none of us had perfect earthly fathers and none of us are certainly perfect as fathers…But may we have eyes to see how our heavenly Father more than makes up for all the gaps and shortcomings.
mike wittmer on June 4, 2013 at 1:49 pm
This is a very good word. I am blessed to have a very good dad, so this is easy for me to say, but I suspect that those who had horrible earthly fathers are the ones who most need to know that they have a heavenly Father. It may be hard to call God “Father,” given all of the baggage that comes with that term. But they need to know that they aren’t orphans. They have the best Father imaginable, a Father who puts all other dads in the shade. And He wants them to call him “Father.”
Jeff Olson on June 4, 2013 at 3:38 pm
When Henri Nouwen was a professor at Harvard University he visited St Petersburg, Russia…there in a museum he saw Rembrandt’s famous painting of “The return of the prodigal son” and spent several days thinking over its meaning…Nouwen was so moved by the portrayal of the Father’s love that it completely changed his life…he was so moved by what he saw that he resigned from Harvard and devoted the rest of his life to working with the mentally challenged in Toronto.
lindafrances on June 4, 2013 at 5:04 pm
When I was young I had an unhealthy fear of God the Father. When I became a Christian the fear was still there. After years of studying God’s word and getting to know who Our Father really is I could see He did not hate me or was not angry with me ever, but always He always loved and cared about me. In fact, I believe had I not gone through those bad times, I would not be a Christian today. Just like Joseph; what was meant to harm me was for my good.
maryanne_intia on June 4, 2013 at 8:20 pm
Thanks for this devotional. I just lost my father a month ago, due to a blood infection. There are times when I miss my father so much, that it made me question God. But, I am thankful because He picked me up and He healed my broken heart. Now, after reading your post, I am reminded of how loving and gracious our Heavenly Father is. I know His plans for me and my family is greater than what we can think of. God Bless you for your post.
Jeff Olson on June 4, 2013 at 11:08 pm
maryanne, I’m sorry to learn about your loss…I know where you are coming from…I lost my father less than a year ago to cancer…it’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, but I too have found that my Heavenly Father has been there to comfort my grief-stricken heart.
Tom Kopper on June 4, 2013 at 11:00 pm
I had a father who us through fear. And later in life coming to Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I met my Heavenly Father, with ‘FEAR’. His unfailing love mercy, kindness over decades, have slowly but surely removed and still is removing ‘FEAR’ from me and is it is being replace with more and more reverend – fear, (respect), for Him.
Thanks be to God, Who will never leave us or forsake us!
Brian on June 5, 2013 at 8:26 pm
I have had a strain relationship with my father since I was 10 and now that I am saved and older, things only seem and appear to get worse between us. I am always antagonized by him and he continues to question my relationship with Christ. I’ve been trying to do a detox for the past two years of believing that God wants prosperity for me, but after believing I wasn’t good enough for 13-15 years old, it’s made my transition rather challenging. Nonetheless, I say thank you for this devotion. I needed this because I was beginning to believe God was just like my father because there can’t be anyway he wants me to prosper but yet, no blessings will come my way. I tithe and minister to people as much as possibly can. But, I will continue to strive and lean on Jeremiah 29:11! Thank you Mr. Olson for this on time devotion.
Jeff Olson on June 6, 2013 at 7:15 am
Your welcome Brian!